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20 of the Most Dangerous Jobs in the World

At some point in our working lives, we have all convinced ourselves that we have the worst job on the planet. But let’s take a minute (or 10) to spare a thought for those who put their lives on the line, on a daily basis to earn a living. From an adrenaline enhanced fight with a snake to being stuck inside a volcano; these jobs are not for the squeamish, but for the dare-devils that want something more than being trapped in the comfort of a desk cubicle.

Here we take a look at the 20 most dangerous jobs in the world:

1. Underwater Welder

Underwater welders face a series of dangers on the job every day, including the risk of shock, explosion, decompression sickness and wear on their dental fillings. Underwater welding is ranked as one of the top five most dangerous careers- according to Blogger Proud to Be American. “It has a 15% fatality rate, 1,000 more dangerous than being a police officer.”

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2. Fisherman

Any kind of fishing is an extremely dangerous profession; they are faced with blizzards and difficult weather conditions, heavy machinery and long working hours with no or, very little sleep. Fishermen suffer from serious injuries due to heavy machinery and gear, with 80% of fatalities due to hyperthermia or being thrown overboard and drowning.

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3. Logger

The task of working all day cutting down large trees sounds dangerous enough without adding fast-moving machinery into the mix. Lumberjacks have one of the most life-threatening careers with the highest rate of workplace fatalities; according to priceonomics“91 in 100,000 loggers are killed on the job every year - nearly 30 times greater than the average job.” The majority of logging-related deaths comes from equipment errors or trees falling on workers.

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4. Microchip Manufacturer

This isn’t an occupation that would seem dangerous, but computer chips are created with numerous hazardous chemicals including arsenic. While manufacturing chips might not be immediately fatal, there are long-term effects to health such as high rates of miscarriages, birth defects, cancer and respiratory illnesses.

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5. Bush Pilot

Loved by many youngsters that need a bit of adrenaline in their day-to-day lives, but it comes with a lot of risk. Any day can vary from working in bad weather conditions to fires and extreme targets. Although a great deal of training is given, this job has many deaths with a rate of 87.8 deaths in 100,000 workers, according to Bureau of Labour statistics.

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6. Bull Rider

Bull riding has surged in popularity since the 1990s with promises of big money for a second ride, but bull riders can suffer at least one significant injury per every 15 events they partake in, including concussions, broken bones and fractures. This life-threatening situation is probably not worth the potential prize money.

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7. Steel Worker

Although safety harnesses have been implemented, steelworkers still risk falling from a great height. The job also includes the risk of serious injuries from steel beams or walls collapsing on workers. In the US, in 2005, steelworkers still had a fatality rate of 56 deaths per 100,000 according to BLS statistics.

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8. Oil Rig Worker

This tough job is very challenging on one’s physical and mental health. Most offshore oil riggers work 16-hour shifts, often with very little sleep and in very hostile environments. Fires and oil rig explosions top the list for job-related dangers.

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9. Snake Milker

Snake milking is one of the deadliest yet essential jobs that save many lives every year. While there are safety procedures in place, each milking process has a high-risk factor when fighting with such a fast and poisonous reptile. Most workers are bitten on the job. On the upside, snake milkers risk their lives to save thousands of others.

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10. Lorry Driver

Lorry and courier driving is dangerous for a number of reasons; it’s a tiring job that requires a lot of concentration and the vehicles often weigh up to 44 tons. Couriers are also at risk of being physically harmed and robbed for the goods that they are transporting. According to the Telegraph, “a heavy goods vehicle has the potential to cause a lot of damage if a driver loses control – but a number of lorry driver deaths were caused by other moving vehicles on the road.”

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11. Sulphur Miner

Sulphur miners in Indonesia carry toxic sulphur from inside volcanos for just £3 a month. The sulphur destroys their lungs over time, burns their eye and hurts their throat and chest. It’s extremely detrimental to their health and their body. Once the miners have spent hours in the volcanos they carry 90kg of sulphur on their back to sell it for pittance.

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12. Target Assistant

Target assistants put their lives in the hand of their trusted magician to make a living. They either like the rush of the terrifying knife throwing act or the paycheck that comes with it. One accidental slip or sneeze and the target assistant could be faced with a trip to the A&E rather than centre stage.

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13. Power Line Worker

Powerline work and communication tower climbing are considered to be one of the hardest jobs in the world. This career involves climbing tremendous heights with heavy equipment in tough weather conditions. It also needs someone with great balance and strength that is up to working irregular hours. According to CNN, there are on average “21.5 deaths per 100,000 workers”.

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14. Emergency Medical Technician

While emergency medical technicians work to save lives; they often put themselves in life-threatening situations as they treat and transport injured patients. A CDC report found that “forty-ﬁve percent of EMS worker deaths were reportedly the result of vehicle collisions, with 31 percent due to air transportation incidents and 12 percent to EMT personnel being struck by vehicles. And then there are EMT-related injuries particular to their profession, such as being cut or struck by medical equipment, or exposure to infectious diseases.”

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15. Manufacturer

Factory work involves dealing with dangerous machinery. The Telegraph reported that “manufacturing products including food, metal, rubber, plastic, furniture and machinery resulted in 111 deaths over the five-year period from 2011-16.” Most of the deaths were a cause of being hit by an object after contact with the equipment.

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16. Mechanic

Mechanics spend a lot of time working under and around heavy vehicles. Accidents are fatal when working in such a dangerous environment, especially if you are called to a breakdown. Over a long period, the vehicle exhaust fumes can be a huge health risk too. Around 48 mechanics in the UK die on the job per year.

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17. Civil Engineer

While a civil engineer can attract an above average wage of over £35,000, they can also expect to encounter collapsed excavations, being hit by vehicles, coming into contact with electricity and even hyperthermia depending on the job spec.

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18. Crocodile Wrestler

This isn’t your everyday job, but crocodile wrestlers do actually exist At the Samphran Elephant Ground and Zoo in Thailand! Their daily duties involve, sticking their hide inside a crocodiles mouth for entertainment purposes of zoo visitors.

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19. Roofer

Being a roofer can be a challenging job; their days are spent installing and fixing roofs by using a variety of materials, including shingles, asphalt, and metal. It can be very dangerous working in the colder months and can result in fatal injuries and deaths if they happen to trip or fall.

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20. Firefighter

Firefighters put their lives on the line and enter life-threatening circumstances on a daily basis to protect the lives of others and save them from dangerous situations. They can be faced with harmful gases, strong fires and chemical spills. Their job is challenging but provides a high level of satisfaction.

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The 20 most dangerous jobs in the world. Do any of these occupations tickle your fancy? Let us know in the comment section below!